Spinners put West Indies 'A' in command against India 'A'

September 27, 2013 18:45 IST

Opener Kieran Powell's half century, and spinners Veerasammy Permaul and Nikita Miller's magical spells, tightened the West Indies 'A' grip over India 'A' on the third day of the first unofficial Test, at the Gangothri Glades cricket grounds, in Mysore, on Friday.

At stumps, the visitors were 130 for three in reply to the hosts' first innings total of 245 all out, a huge lead of 314 runs.

Captain Kirk Edwards and Chadwick Walton were unbeaten on nine and zero respectively at draw of stumps.

Riding high after extraordinary bowling by their spin duo, the West Indies openers began their second innings with supreme confidence. Both Kraigg Brathwaite and Powell put on 112 runs for the first wicket.

While Brathwaite was cautious in his approach, Powell, who has been out of form in the series so far, came out with a positive frame of mind.

Unlike in his earlier knocks, Powell adopted an aggressive approach and belted a wayward Indian attack, scoring 68 in 88 balls, with nine boundaries and a six, before he was caught and bowled by spinner Rajat Paliwal.

At the same score of 112, first innings hero Parvez Rasool packed off Brathwaite for 34, off 88 balls, including five boundaries.

Rasool celebrated his seventh wicket of the match when he disturbed Narsing Deonarine's furniture after the batsman had scored nine off 12 balls.

Earlier in the day, the Indian batsmen did not have any answer to the magical spell of Miller and Permaul, who wreaked havoc despite overnight batsmen Manpreet Juneja and Harshad Khadiwale offering resistance.

Permaul grabbed five wickets for 85 while Miller claimed four for 61 as the later Indian batsmen fell like a deck of cards.

Juneja was the top-scorer with 84 off 151 balls. His innings was laced with eleven boundaries.

Resuming at the overnight first innings score of 124 for three, India added 40 runs before Permaul trapped Juneja leg before. Soon India lost two more wickets in the form of Paliwal (1) and Khadiwale (27), leaving India at 186 for six and a recovery from this stage looked a far cry.

Permaul, unlike the Indian bowlers, rattled the Indian tailenders - Mohammad Shami, Ishwar Pandey and Ashoke Dinda - and packed them off in quick succession.